Travel, Teach, Live in Europe and Middle East

Dubai Underwater Hotel

By:Caroline Romero

Tourism is booming in the United Arab Emirates and as a result, many expansive projects are underway in this trendy vacation spot. Dubai's first underwater hotel, the Hydropolis, has been under construction since 2005. The design of the massive structure was inspired by the Jules Verne novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." A hefty price tag will offer guests a luxurious stay in a one-of-a-kind undersea environment.

LocationThe Hydropolis is Dubai's first underwater resort. The hotel is currently under construction on the floor of the Persian Gulf about 30 meters below sea level. Guests will enter the resort by way of land, through Jumeirah Beach, one of the most exclusive areas of the country. They will travel 515 meters through a transparent tunnel by train to reach the undersea sanctuary.

DesignThe luxurious 220-suite hotel was envisioned by German architect Joachim Hauser but designed by Professor Roland Dieterle. Built of reinforced concrete, it features custom-built Plexiglas walls and bubble-shaped suites. The design consists of three parts: the entrance via the land station, which is wave-shaped; a 1,690-foot-long transparent connecting tunnel and the underwater hotel, which will take the shape of a jellyfish.

AmenitiesThe hotel will contain a variety of exciting amenities catering to its wealthy customers. The complex will provide a cosmetic surgery clinic, a marine biological research institute and a movie theater as part of the land entrance complex. Additionally, a museum, a library, three restaurants, a shopping mall, and a Roman-themed spa and pool will offer hours of entertainment for the guests. The Hydropolis is designed to have two glass domes, one over a ballroom and one over an auditorium, with retractable roofs that will open to the surface. This feature will allow open-air shows and concerts and a view of the city's skyline from the ballroom. The structure will even feature its own clouds, produced by aboveground machinery, in order to shade guests from the sun. Every hotel suite will feature state-of-the-art facilities, such as direct-dial telephone, color television, en-suite bathroom, work desk, Internet access and air conditioner.

Guests will be charged about $6,000 for a one-night stay in the accommodations.